Bringing a new puppy home comes with lots of excitement and some challenges—especially if you live in a multi-pet household. You might be unsure of how your older dog will react to your new pup, so preparing ahead of time can make a world of difference.
The first step? Adjusting your expectations. It may take several weeks for dogs to acclimatise to a newcomer in the home, so don’t be disheartened if your loving good boy or good girl feels anxious about the arrival of another family member.
Next is prep work and careful supervision. “Always monitor the first interactions between your dogs,” recommends Dr. Kathleen Mottel, DVM, with Glen Ellyn Animal Hospital. “You might find behaviours such as resource guarding and possessiveness over bones, toys, treats, and food at first.”
With help from experts, we review how to create a healthy environment for both puppy and older dog, from what to get ready to how to start introductions.
Before You Bring Your Puppy Home
If you haven’t brought your puppy home yet, the best thing you can do is slowly prepare your older dog for this adjustment. Being proactive before your new pet arrives will help your dog adapt to sharing their space. Here’s what to do.
Stock up on puppy-specific supplies
Chances are good that your dog won’t want to share their favourite chew toy with their new friend. Getting new toys for your puppy can help with territorial possessiveness, and it allows you to choose safe items that are geared toward younger dogs.
You’ll also want to make sure you have puppy-specific supplies such as:
- a playpen or dog gate
- the appropriate-sized crate
- new food and water bowls
- a new lead and puppy collar
- puppy food
Bringing these items home ahead of time may also alert your older dog that change is coming!
Give your dog a separate space
Start creating separate safe spaces in the home. If your older dog has a cosy little spot for their crate, leave it in the same place. They will likely enjoy having this familiar comfort during a time of change. Find a different spot for your puppy’s crate, toys, and food, so they too can have a quiet, calm, and private escape.
Scent swap with toys
If you’re able to meet your puppy ahead of time, bring home toys or a blanket to show your older dog. Introducing a new pet through scent can help with the first physical meeting as your older dog has time to sniff out this new animal arriving in their territory.
Practice routine changes
If you plan on changing where your dog eats, for example, make this transition several weeks before bringing home your new dog. If you anticipate a change in walks or routine, practice that at least two weeks out as well.
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First Meeting
“The right environment is essential when introducing a puppy to an older dog,” says Heather (Deneke) Gillihan, CPDT-KA, director of learning and development at Zoom Room, a dog activity and training centre. Both dogs must feel comfortable.
A neutral outdoor space is a good place for a first introduction, but if your new puppy isn’t fully vaccinated, this meet and greet will have to happen in your back garden, if you have one. “When possible, have the dogs meet in a place outside of the home before you officially bring your puppy home,” suggests Dr. Mottel.
To promote a positive first experience at home, follow these tips.
Let the puppy explore on their own
Moving into a forever home is a huge transition for any dog! Create a calm and puppy-proof environment so that when you bring your pup home, he or she can explore safely and stress-free. It can be helpful to remove your older dog from the situation so as not to overwhelm either pet.
Let the puppy sniff around the house on their own at first while your older dog waits outside or with a friend. After they’ve explored their surroundings, place the puppy in their crate or playpen to prepare for the interaction.
Lead your older dog and guide them near the puppy
When bringing your older dog to the meeting spot, use a lead but keep it slack. “People can inadvertently cause a reaction by pulling on the lead when the puppy is safely in the pen,” says Gillihan.
Observe how your older dog reacts to the puppy from outside the barrier. When the meeting is happening outside or in a place where it’s not safe for the puppy to roam, Dr. Mottel says it’s best to put both pets on a lead.
If the interaction isn’t going well, gently lead the older dog away and try again later. Even if the meeting goes well, keep the introduction brief and allow both dogs to get their bearings.
Reward good behaviour
“Rewarding both dogs with treats for good behaviour is essential,” says Dr. Mottel. When they interact positively, give plenty of praise, pets, and treats! Rewarding good behaviour will help teach both dogs that this new stranger is a friend.
As you begin to train your puppy, make sure to provide your older dog with plenty of love. This can help the older dog associate the new puppy with positive things, such as love, attention, and treats.
Keep Building Positive Interactions
As you settle into life with a new puppy, prioritise helping both pets acclimate to this big life change. It’s not uncommon for dogs to take two to four weeks to start getting along.
Dogs who aren’t adjusting well may take up to six months to get used to each other. This is typically true for canines with a large age gap, size difference, or upbringing. Promoting positive interactions can set your household up for success.
Feed your dogs separately
Mealtime might become an intense competition if you set down two bowls of kibble. For example, your older dog might want to steal your puppy’s food to assert dominance, and your puppy may try and sample your older dog’s food out of curiosity.
Dogs of different ages typically have different nutritional needs, so feeding the pets separately (in different bowls and different locations) avoids resource guarding, aggression, and potential health issues.
Exercise your puppy before playtime
If your older dog is slowing down, they might find a high-energy pup to be a nuisance. Exercising your puppy before playtime with the older dog can decrease intensity and make for a better experience for the older dog. This will also reduce the risk of one dog snapping at the other out of irritation.
Do training sessions together
As you train your puppy, include your older dog so they don’t feel left out! This can foster healthy interactions between the dogs as they both receive lots of treats and praise. Chances are, the older dog is already a master at the cues and routines you’re teaching, so the puppy will also be able to observe their sibling’s good behaviour.
Give your older dog one-on-one time
With lots of change happening, don’t forget to give your older dog plenty of TLC. This includes one-on-one time away from the puppy. A solo walk, trip to the park, or cuddle session on the sofa can make all the difference for your dog’s mental health.
Signs your dogs are getting along
You can start to trust your dogs together when you notice relaxed and calm body language from both pets. Positive body language between dogs who are comfortable with each other includes:
- Gentle sniffing from behind and not face-first
- Active play where both dogs take on the role of instigator
- Loose, wiggly bodies from ears to tail
- Choosing to be near each other
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Troubleshooting
Dogs can sense tension, so if you’re feeling stressed by the process, your older dog may pick up on that and become more stressed themselves. “With all of the change, you may also notice inappropriate urination, food aggression, resource guarding, and fighting between dogs whose personalities don’t align,” says Dr. Mottel.
Always avoid forcing dogs to continue an interaction where they feel uncomfortable. It’s time to end the encounter if you notice your puppy bothering your adult dog, your adult dog showing stressed or aggressive body language, or a lack of interest in interacting.
If your puppy is bothering your adult dog
A puppy who constantly wants to play or steals toys might cause your older dog to become stressed and agitated. Training your puppy with cues like “leave it” can help. While your puppy learns, monitor interactions so you can redirect when needed—and if you can’t watch closely, opt for the puppy playpen.
If your adult dog is showing stressed or aggressive body language toward your puppy
Signs that the puppy stresses your older dog include:
Stiff body language
- Raised hackles
- Prolonged stares
- Hunched back
- Side-eyeing
- Growling
- Displaying teeth
If they are responding to the puppy in this manner, gently redirect their attention away from the other dog and move both dogs into a calm, separate space to unwind.
If your dog doesn’t want to interact at all
Not every dog wants another playmate at home. You may notice that they avoid interacting with the newest family member at all costs! Creating an environment for your pup and older dog to enjoy together is a long-term process. Find a balance between integrating your older dog into the puppy’s routine and giving them plenty of one-on-one love and affection.
Introducing a New Adult Dog
Adopting a rescue dog is one of the most rewarding experiences! These dogs are often older than a puppy, which means they may already be housetrained and out of the wild puppy phase. They’ll also have their own past experiences to take into account.
Introducing a new adult dog to your current pup can often follow the same steps as an initial meeting with a puppy. But it’s a good idea to talk to the shelter about your new dog’s history to understand how they typically react to other dogs and if there are any anxious triggers to work through first.
Adopting a dog of any age requires time, patience, and dedication… especially when integrating them into a house with other pets. If your dogs struggle to acclimate to one another, consider talking to a qualified dog trainer who can provide training tools and help you create an action plan.
